Ground Cover rose plant named ‘Noala’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety for Ground Cover Rose plant is provided which forms in clusters substantially continuously throughout the season attractive long-lasting bright coral blossoms. The blossoms open on a reliable baisis and retain their attractiveness upon aging. The new variety exhibits an upright, dense, compact and spreading growth habit that renders it suitable for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The foilage is glossy and dark green and contrasts well with the bright coral blossoms. The petals detach cleanly when the blossoms mature. Excellent resistance to Blackspot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust is exhibited.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Ground Cover RosePlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Noala’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Ground Cover rose plants are known and are being used to advantage in anincreasing number of landscape plans and home gardens. However, thereremains a need for additional varieties of Ground Cover roses with thedemand being the greatest for those having highly attractive blossoms incombination with good disease resistance.

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Ground Cover rose plant of the presentinvention was created at Gütersloh, Germany, by artificial pollinationwherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied inthe hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. Thefemale parent (i.e,, the seed parent) was the ‘Korsami’ variety(non-patented in the United States). Such ‘Korsami’ variety is marketedunder the REPANDIA trademark and possesses soft pink single blossoms.The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was an unnamed seedlingmaintained by Noack Rosen at Gütersloh, Germany (non-patented in theUnited States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized asfollows:

 ‘Korsami’×Unnamed Seedling.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which physically and biologically differ from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantto the new variety.

It is found that the new variety of Ground Cover rose plant possessesthe following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in clusters attractive bright coral blossoms,

(b) exhibits an upright, dense, compact and spreading growth habit,

(c) forms attractive glossy dark green foliage that contrasts well withthe bright coral blossoms,

(d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect to Blackspot,Powdery Mildew, and Rust, and

(e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentationin the landscape.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can begrown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and residential landscapes.

The new variety of the present invention beginning in 1993 has beenasexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings, by budding, and bygrafting. Such asexual reproduction as performed at Gütersloh, Germany,has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new variety are firmlyfixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation toanother.

The new variety of the present invention has been named ‘Noala’, andrecently has been marketed under the ALFABIA trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety while growing in the landscape. Theillustrated rose plants were photographed during July, 1993, whilegrowing in the field at Gütersloh, Germany. Such plants were buddedapproximately one and one-half years earlier.

FIG. 1 illustrates the overall appearance of typical plants of the newvariety while bearing a profusion of blossoms in various stages ofopening. Plants at the upper portion of the photograph are being grownin an optional tree form. The typical ground cover form is shown at thelower portion of the photograph.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of typical blossoms and buds of the newvariety wherein the bright coral blossoms are shown to contrast nicelywith the glossy dark green foliage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Colorterminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to thereader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customarydictionary significance. The description is based on the observation ofspecimens of the new variety while growing outdoors during July atGütersloh, Germany.

Class: Ground Cover.

Parentage:

Female.—‘Korsami’ (non-patented in the United States).

Male.—Unnamed Seedling maintained by Noack Rosen at Gütersloh, Germany(non-patented in the United States).

Plant:

Form.—Vigorous, young plants exhibit an upright growth habit, then asthe plant matures they spread to form a compact bush that serves well asground cover with dense foliage.

Size.—Approximately 100 to 120 cm in height and approximately 80 cm inwidth when mature.

Branches:

Color.—Young stems: Light green, Yellow-Green Group 144B, and with asmooth surface. Adult wood: Medium green, Green Group 141B, and with asmooth surface.

Thorns.—Size: Medium, approximately 5 mm in length on average, andslightly curved downward, and concave on the under surface. Position:Irregular. Color: Greyed-Orange Group 163A when immature, and changingto Greyed-Orange Group 164B at maturity. Quantity: Moderate and typicalfor a Ground Cover rose plant.

Leaves:

Stipules.—Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration, approximately 1 cm inlength, and approximately 0.5 cm in width.

Leaflets.—Number: Commonly 5 and 7. Configuration: Oval and pointed.Quantity: Very abundant. Size: Terminal leaflets commonly areapproximately 3 cm in length and approximately 2 cm in width. Serration:Slightly serrate, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Color: (Young foliage):Upper surface: Green Group 141C. Under surface: Green Group 141D. Color:(Adult foliage): Upper surface: Green Group 141A. Under surface: GreenGroup 139C. General appearance: Dense, dark green foliage that is glossyon the upper surface and matte on the under surface. Texture: Leathery.Petiole: Smooth.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.—In clusters of approximately 20 to 25 flowers as alarge spray.

Peduncle.—Smooth and Green Group 141C in coloration.

Sepals.—Shape: Smooth, pointed as illustrated in FIG. 2, approximately 1cm in length, commonly with pointed extensions, and Green Group 138B incoloration.

Buds.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm on average. Color when opening:Shrimp Red, Red Group 33C to 33D.

Flower.—Form: Initially cup-shaped with flattening upon maturity.Appearance: Smooth on both petal surfaces. Diameter: Approximately 3 cmon average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: Near Red Group36A towards the edge and gradually fades to Red Group 36D at the basewith some variation. Under surface: Primarily White Group 155B. Color(when blooming): Upper surface: Predominantly bright coral, Red Group48D, with some near Red Group 47A and white at the middle and base,White Group 155B. The bright yellow coloration of pollen and thereproductive organs commonly is visible. Under surface: Predominantly,coral, Red Group 48D. Color (at the end of opening): Upper surface: Thepredominantly coral coloration lightens to at least Red Group 49B. Undersurface: The coral coloration lightens to white, near White Group 155B.Fragrance: Slight. Lasting quality: Very good. Petal number: Commonlyapproximately 5 to 10 per flower. Petal form: Broad, fan-shaped, curvedwith a lightly indented central area and margin areas that are slightlycurved towards the center. Petal size: Commonly approximately 2 to 2.5cm in length and approximately 3 cm in width. Petaloids: None observedduring observations to date. Petal arrangement: Single, and generallyarranged in a regular pattern with overlapping edges. Lastingness:Commonly approximately 5 to 7 days depending upon environmentalconditions. Petal drop: Good with the petals detaching cleanly. Stamens:Regularly arranged around the style. Filaments: Regularly arrangedaround the style, approximately 5 mm in length, Yellow-Orange Group 22Bin coloration, and are nearly transparent in appearance. Anthers:Approximately 2 mm in size. Pollen: Light yellow in coloration. Stigmas:Yellow-Orange Group 21A in coloration. Styles: Thin, approximately 5 mmin length, Yellow-Orange Group 22B in coloration, regularly arranged atthe center, and tend to be of substantially the same length. Hips:Formed in sparse quantity, round, smooth, approximately 1 cm indiameter, and upon maturity change from Green Group 139B to Red Group44C.

Development:

Vegetation.—Strong and vigorous.

Blooming.—Abundant in sprays.

Aptitude to bear fruit.—Slight.

Winter hardiness.—Good and comparable to that of the ‘Flower CarpetWhite’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,573).

Resistance to diseases.—Excellent with respect to Blackspot, PowderyMildew, and Rust.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ground Cover Rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) formsin clusters attractive bright coral blossoms, (b) exhibits an upright,dense, compact and spreading growth habit, (c) forms attractive glossydark green foilage that contrasts well with the bright coral blossoms,(d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect to Blackspot,Powdery Mildew, and Rust, and (e) is particularly well suited forgrowing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially asherein shown and described.